THE green light has been given for 176 new homes to be built in Pershore.

Proposals for the houses, as well as greenery, a play area and allotments to be built on land to the west of Station Road was approved at a meeting of Wychavon District Council’s planning committee on the afternoon of Thursday, September 17.

The houses that developers, Persimmon Homes, plan to build will be a mixture of two storey and five storey homes and bungalows.

Despite concerns about the location of allotments, which are planned to be sited at the front of the development close to the road, and the provision of bin storage, the proposal was passed unanimously.

Councillor Valerie Wood, said: “I would rather see some allotments than none at all. I would have liked to have seen more bungalows, and I would really like to see holes made in the garden fences for the hedgehogs to get through. I know it sounds silly but right now there will be a population of them living on that green field, and we want to do out best to keep them alive and stop them from dying out or becoming isolated.”

Councillor Margaret Rowley, said: “I welcome this development. The amount of green infrastructure at this site is commendable. I quite like the lay out and the mix of housing types.”

Councillor Audrey Steel said the plans were "marginally better" than other applications that had come in previously.

"I'm disappointed there are only six bungalows out of 176 units, none of which are on the open market. There are people who prefer to live in a bungalow, not just older people.

"I also think the developers need to look at making sure there is a water supply close to the allotments."